Middle East

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes the Carnegie Endowment's Marwan Muasher for a discussion of his new book, "The Second Arab Awakening." Topics covered include: "The First Arab Awakening;" the political failure of Arab states in the wake of nationalism and pan Arabism; the evolution of political Islam; the role of the military and technology in shaping the course of the Arab Spring; what is required for the second Arab Awakening to succeed; and the importance for the building of a third force in Arab politics, one that respects pluralism and establishes institutions that are...

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Trita Parsi, President of the National Iranian American Council, for a discussion of his new book "A Single Role of the Dice." Parsi analyzes President Obama's intentions toward Iran and how they were transformed by the politics of his tactics with its emphasis on the dual track of engagement and sanction. He discusses the various factors that impacted the negotiations between Iran and the U.S. including the domestic situation in Iran and the influence of Israeli goals. He also places the relationship in the context of the changing strategic...

an Lustick, Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, joins UC Berkley's Harry Kreisler on this edition of Conversations with History to discuss Israel and its ongoing conflict with Palestine in the Middle East.

http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people2/Lustick/lustick-con0.html

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Steven A. Cook, Sabbagh Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, for a discussion of his new book, "The Struggle for Egypt." Cook discusses the major actors in modern Egyptian history focusing on the military, the Muslim Brotherhood and the student movements. He identifies recurring patterns—the failure of the military to achieve equity and social justice under Nasser, Sadat, and Mubarak; the continuing resilience of the Muslim Brotherhood in providing a meaningful national narrative while developing organizations that could meet the...